March 25, 2020

Do You Want to be Healed?

John 5:1–17

Blake Holmes
Wednesday's Devo

March 25, 2020

Wednesday's Devo

March 25, 2020

Central Truth

Healing and freedom are found in Jesus Christ.

Key Verse | John 5:6

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"

John 5:1–17

The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic 1 5:2 Or Hebrew called Bethesda, 2 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 3 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; 4for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews 4 5:10 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed Jesus in that time; also verses 15, 16, 18 said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 Or Hebrew
[2] 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida
[3] 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; 4for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had
[4] 5:10 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed Jesus in that time; also verses 15, 16, 18

Dive Deeper | John 5:1–17

Every time I read this passage I'm struck by Jesus' question. Why would Jesus ask this of a man who had been crippled for 38 years?

Isn't the answer obvious?

Of course he wants to be healed!

There must have been more to Jesus' question than what appears on the surface. What was Jesus really asking?

The text offers us a clue. The man believed that healing would come from the pool waters near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. During that time, the people believed that the first person to enter the water after it stirred would be healed.

Jesus challenged the man's belief. Would he trust in the superstitious beliefs of the day, or would he trust in the Divine Physician?

Jesus' question to the lame man is just as instructive for us today as it was back then. We must ask ourselves, "To whom or what am I looking for healing?" Or, said another way, do I want to get well on my terms or on God's?

The truth of the matter is not everyone wants to be healed, not if it means they may have to give up a particular habit, fantasy, or fleeting source of pleasure. I've seen it many times. A man hates the weight of conviction he carries after binging on pornography, but he isn't willing to cut off every means of access. A young adult admits that alcohol is strengthening its grip on her life, but she cannot imagine socializing without a drink in her hand and refuses to give it up. In both cases, they don't want freedom. They simply don't want to suffer the consequences of their choices.

Jesus wasn't asking the lame man if he simply wanted to be healed of his physical paralysis, but if he wanted to be healed of an even greater sickness—sin and death.

Jesus offers us this same healing if we will simply trust in Him.

What about you? Do you want to be healed?

Discussion Questions

1. What are you asking the Lord for today?

2. Do you believe He is the ultimate source of healing and freedom?

3. Do you want to be healed? On His terms or yours?